Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 23, 2011 10:51 am I'm having lunch with the couple that are building on the block next to us on Friday. They've just submitted their plans to council in June. The deadline for submissions closed before settlement on our block had passed but the previous owners sent the info through to us anyway (which I thogh was nice of them). Now we've received an email asking us to get in touch with them to talk about fencing A little earlier than we had expected! He did mention on the phone that they're in no hurry and this is a very early chat just to make sure we're on the same page with regards to style, etc. We've both got an acre and looking at the already established houses I'd be surprised if he wanted to do more than just post and wire. I can't wait to talk to him about his house though! From the elevations and site plans it looks huge and pretty flash! I want to know things like: who is he building with (definitely not a project builder!) who was the designer (if different) was the sun track and prevailing winds taken into account? (Our blocks both have a rear view that faces SW) soil report info? external colours! Am I getting too personal too soon? I presume I'll see what they're like in person before I fire all those questions at them. They seem lovely on the phone though. Any tips for meeting the neighbours for the first time? Any other questions I should ask? Would it be reasonable to ask for two (or more) quotes to be provided for the fencing? Casey + Gary + 5 kool kiddos + 1 funky Frenchie + 5 happy hens = barrels of fun in Muswellbrook Re: Meeting the neighbours - what to ask? 2Aug 23, 2011 11:03 am I don't think any of those questions are too personal... you aren't asking what size jocks they wear!!! Definately ask to get 3 quotes for fence... they will probably want to do that as well. They are probably just as curious about your plans as you are about theirs!! Good neighbours are under rated!! You don't realise until you have bad ones... good luck Re: Meeting the neighbours - what to ask? 3Aug 23, 2011 11:08 am Given they are building their own house I think they would want to talk about all of those. As for the fence, I would expect them to have gotten at least 2 or 3 quotes. If they haven't, they should be able to give a good reason why and be able to lecture you about fence prices these days and how they know they've gotten a good deal. If they just say "I found someone who will do it for $x, is that ok?" then I would say "Um, I don't know how much these things usually cost. What's the usual price?". Metricon Riva 33 - http://herlihy-riva.blogspot.com Site start 15/03/2010 - Handover 23/12/2010 9 months and 8 days (284 calendar days) from site start to handover Re: Meeting the neighbours - what to ask? 4Aug 23, 2011 11:10 am My first meetings with my neighbours weren't quite so formal (we just met when we were at our blocks of land) but I did ask the usual questions about house type, when they were starting to build, placement of home on their block etc. Another question I wanted answered was whether they had a dog (so I could be forewarned of any potential yapping ) With regards to fencing I would just try to make sure you are on the same page in terms of the type you want and get an indication as to when they want the fences installed. Where I live in Victoria (and I think in most states) there is an Act that dictates what happens with fences when neighbours can't agree so trying to agree is always the first step. I think it is more than reasonable to ask for a couple of quotes for the fence before you commit to anything (although you may want to be neighbourly and offer to get one quote yourself whilst they get the other). Good luck! I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15244 Ardo That is so funny! I wonder how many people know who Larry Haun is these days. I have a couple of young guys we call Mo 1 & Mo 2 who run a crew of 6 boys and… 9 15483 it depends on the natural ground level, if they excavated their boundary wall needed to be built as a retaining wall. If you filled, which sounds like the case then you… 1 7075 |